Abrading device and method of abrading a floor structure utilizing the same

Abstract

An abrading device for abrading a floor structure comprises a first abrading assembly and a second abrading assembly. The first and second abrading assemblies each have a rotationally driven contact roll provided with a sleeve having a plurality of cutouts formed in a pattern thereon. An abrading belt is trained over the sleeve. A first oscillation assembly is connected to the first abrading assembly and oscillates the contact roll of the first abrading assembly in a first direction via a linear, reciprocating motion. A second oscillation assembly is connected to the second abrading assembly and oscillates the contact roll of the second abrading assembly in a second direction via a linear reciprocating motion. The first and second abrading assemblies consecutively abrade a top surface of the floor structure with the pattern formed by the cutouts on the respective sleeves to form a distressed visible pattern thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A floor panel having a machine-imparted distressed visible pattern, the floor panel comprising:
 a body extending along a longitudinal axis; 
 the body comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having the machine imparted distressed visible pattern; 
 the machine-imparted distressed visible pattern comprising a plurality of raised portion sets, each of the plurality of raised portion sets comprising:
 a plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions that extend substantially parallel to one another; 
 a plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions extending along a recess portion axis, the recess portion axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and 
 the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions and the plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions arranged in an alternating manner transverse to the longitudinal axis; 
 
 wherein each of the plurality of raised portion sets are separated from an adjacent one of the plurality of raised portion sets by a transverse recessed portion that is uninterrupted along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The floor panel of  claim 1  wherein for at least one of the plurality of raised portion sets, each of the plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions intersects (1) a first one of the transverse recessed portions located on a first end of the at least one of the plurality of raised portion sets; and (2) a second one of the transverse recessed portions located on a second end of the at least one of the plurality of raised portion sets, the second end located opposite the first end. 
     
     
       3. The floor panel of  claim 1  wherein for each of the plurality of raised portion sets, each of the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions is isolated from all other of the elongated longitudinal raised portions on the top surface. 
     
     
       4. The floor panel of  claim 1  for each of the plurality of raised portion sets, each of the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions have substantially the same length. 
     
     
       5. The floor panel of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises first pair of opposing side surfaces and a second pair of opposing side surfaces, each of the side surfaces of the first and second pairs comprising a mechanical locking member. 
     
     
       6. The floor panel of  claim 1  wherein each of the transverse recessed portions extends across an entire width of the floor panel. 
     
     
       7. The floor panel of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of raised portion sets comprises a first raised portion set and a second raised portion set; and wherein the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions of the first raised portion set are aligned with the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions of the second raised portion set. 
     
     
       8. The floor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions extends linearly along the recess portion axis. 
     
     
       9. The floor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first end opposite a second end and a third end opposite a fourth end, wherein the first end and the second end intersect the third end and the fourth end, and the longitudinal axis intersects the first end and the second end. 
     
     
       10. The floor panel of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second end have a first length and the third and fourth end have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length. 
     
     
       11. The floor panel of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second end have a first length and the third and fourth end have a second length, the first length being greater than the second length. 
     
     
       12. A floor panel having a machine-imparted distressed visible pattern, the floor panel comprising:
 a body extending along a longitudinal axis; 
 the body comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having the machine-imparted distressed visible pattern; 
 the machine-imparted distressed visible pattern comprising a plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions that extend substantially parallel to one another in a spaced apart manner, each of the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions being completely surrounded by a continuous recessed area; and 
 wherein the continuous recessed area comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions extending along a recess portion axis, the recess portion axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and 
 wherein the plurality of elongated raised portions are arranged in a plurality of sets and each of the plurality of raised portion sets are separated from an adjacent one of the plurality of raised portion sets by a transverse recessed portion that is uninterrupted along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       13. The floor panel of  claim 12  wherein the continuous recessed area comprises and first and second transverse recessed portions; wherein the plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions and the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions are arranged in an alternating manner transverse to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions are located between the first and second transverse recessed portions. 
     
     
       14. The floor panel of  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second transverse recessed portions extend across the top surface of the floor panel for the entire width of the floor panel. 
     
     
       15. The floor panel of  claim 14  wherein the body comprises first pair of opposing side surfaces and a second pair of opposing side surfaces, each of the side surfaces of the first and second pairs comprising a mechanical locking member. 
     
     
       16. The floor panel of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions extends linearly along the recess portion axis. 
     
     
       17. The floor panel of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a first end opposite a second end and a third end opposite a fourth end, wherein the first end and the second end intersect the third end and the fourth end and the longitudinal axis intersects the first end and the second end. 
     
     
       18. The floor panel of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second end have a first length and the third and fourth end have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length. 
     
     
       19. The floor panel of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second end have a first length and the third and fourth end have a second length, the first length being greater than the second length. 
     
     
       20. A floor panel having a machine-imparted distressed visible pattern, the floor panel comprising:
 a body extending along a longitudinal axis; 
 the body comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface having the machine-imparted distressed visible pattern; 
 the machine-imparted distressed visible pattern comprising a plurality of elongated raised portions that extend substantially parallel to one another in a spaced apart manner, each of the plurality of elongated longitudinal raised portions being completely surrounded by a continuous recessed area; and 
 wherein the continuous recessed area comprises a plurality of elongated longitudinal recessed portions extending along a recess portion axis, the recess portion axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and 
 wherein the plurality of elongated raised portions are arranged in a plurality of sets and each of the plurality of raised portion sets are separated from an adjacent one of the plurality of raised portion sets by a transverse recessed portion that is uninterrupted along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.